#synthandsundry

[mamotreco]

[mamotreco]

Stone - Time (Record Review)

This NY electrofunk track from 1981 was championed by UK reel to reel tape dj aficionado, Greg Wilson.

In the vocal version, we are off to a tick tock start overlayed with a phone sound effect. This both sets the beat up nicely and calls back to the title. The groove builds up quickly with a hot clavinet motif before the rest of the instrumentation kicks in along with the beat. 

This is all followed up by smooth female vocals that cut in beautifully with the arrangement. They are complemented a little later with a male vocal refrain growling the track title.

The first breakdown brings in a rather tame analog bass line. The clavinet does come back in and it has to be said that the playing feels very tight. A vibraslap at the start of certain bars adds some rhythmic texture before the second breakdown.

This second breakdown brings us to a heady groove that deviates significantly from the main themes and calls back to the phone sound effect from the beginning. At this point, we are brought back to a more muscled up take on the earlier groove, it intensifies all the way to the end. 

At that point as everything starts peeling off, the tick tock from the beginning is revealed to have been there all along.

There isn’t anything unique about the instrumental, other than it makes you appreciate the busy arrangement more. It’s completely devoid of vocals other than a single laugh. For this reason, it has great potential for sampling and edits.

Verdict: Understated early 80s dancefloor fodder that shines on the instrumental with the strength of its arrangement. Definitely something for the earlier side of a night.

https://www.discogs.com/es/Stone-Time/release/112792